Tube frame for tuft weaving



C. LEA

TUBE FRAME FOR TUFT WEAVING Dec. 7 1926.

Filed Dec. 51 1924 Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

units STATE:

P FF l (I E;

CHARLES LEA,..OEI. YILIJO1 T, HLA3SAGHUSETTS, ASSIG'JZIGREO Sf-IARVMUT ENGINEERING- COMPAN'Y', OFBQS'EON, IvIASSACHUSETETS, ACGPJPORAIION 01" MASSACHUSETTS.

' TUBEFEAME FOR TUFT WFIEAVING.

Application filed December 31, 1924;.

This invention relates to tube frames for tuft weaving, and is intended to provide a convenient and easily replaceable suspension means for detachably connecting the tube frame with the carrier-chains by which it is brought into position for transfer to the loom by appropriate transfer devices well known in the art. The invention also consists in a novel construction and arrangement for applying brake pressure to the yarn spool'in order to retard or hold back the rotation to pr duce tension-on the yarn being drawn therefrom through the individual tuft tubes.

One object oft-he invention is to broduce a light, strong suspension device well adapted-to bemade of pressed sheet metal and so constructed that the parts more exposed torlamage or injury may be easily replaced, while affording a very simple bearing construction'for releasably supporting the yarn spooli iliese and other features of the invention will be particularly described in the following specification and will be defined in the claimshereto annexed.

Iii-the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in central section, of the end portion of a tube frame equipped with the preferred form of'my present improvements.

Figure 2 an end elevation of such a tube frame viewed from the outside.

Figure 3 is an inside elevation showing thesuspension means attached tothe carrier-bar with the'brake in cross section.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, with the outer chain-engaging member of the suspension means removed for re placement.

Figure 5 is a detail view in elevation showing the outer member that has been removed from the parts shown inFigure 4:.

Figure 6 is an inside elevation of the releasable spool journal bearing member.

Figure 7 is a plan View of the carrier-bar and brake mechanism, the suspension members being shown in cross section.

According to the practice illustrated in the drawings, the carrier-bar 1, to which the'parallel tuft guiding tubes are secured, is in the form of a rectangular tube to whose ends are attached the suspension Serial No. 759.019:

means to'connect it with the carrier-chains and on which is mounted a brake for retarding the yarn spool 12.

The brake member comprises a strip or arm 3 of spring metal whose-inner end is in the form of a narrow tongue 3, lying in a slightly oifset plane to allow its convenient insertion through a slot or aperture 3, suitably located in the top ofthe tubular carrier-bar. A fastening screw 3", tapped into the top of the bar, serves to anchor the brake member 3-in positionin-conjunction with the tongue already described so as to prevent a swinging'moveinent about the fastening screw as an axis. At its outer or brake end, which comes in engagement with the periphery of the head of the spool, the brake member is recessed to leave a pair of oppositely disposed projecting prongs 3 which rest astride the adjacent portion of the inner member 8 of the hanger,

whio'h will presently be described, so as to afford a guiding contact positively pre venting the lateral displacement of the brake 1n the direction of rotation ofthe contac ing rim of the yarn-spool.

In line with the head of the yarn-spool thecarrier-bar 1 is provided with two opposed apertures at 6 and at 6 whoseedges are pressed inwardly to form an annular 6", and thrusts against the underside of the.

spring arm 6 forming the brake, thereby reinforcing its tension or friction against the head of the yarn spool, which tension can be varied according to the adjusted position of the nut 16.

The suspension means for supporting'the tube frame from a carrier-chain comprises, in this case, two pressed metal members detachably secured to the carrier-bar itself.

The outer suspension member comprises a vertical arm or narrow plate of sufiicient rigidity or stiffness to prevent yielding under ordinary service strains and has, at its upper end, a chain-penetrating tongue or prong 7. At its lower end the outer or chain-penetrating member is formed with an inwardly and downwardly offset hook-like member 7 adapted to beinserted in an aper ture 8, formed near the bottom of the inner or spoolsupporting member 8, and this oifset tongue forms part of the detachable fastening means by which the outer and inner elements of the hanger'are secured together. The other fastening means for detachably securing them rigidly together comprise fastening screws 7, located adjacent to the top "wall of the carrier-bar.

The outer member: is longitudinally slotted through its middle portion, as indicated at 7, to permit the insertion and to and fro movement of the hook arm 11.

The inner member which TEOlll'lSitllilt portion of the suspension bracket which sup ports the weight of the yarn-spool 12, and also'attaches the chain-penetrating member 7 securely to the carrier-bar, comprises a plate or strip 8 of fairly rigid sheet metal. and has the middle portion of its upper end punched out somewhat in the shape of a keyhole slot, as shown at S leaving two parallel prongs of fork-like arrangen'ient, as

shown at-8, which are turned outwardly to abut against the inside face of the outer hanger member 7 on either side of the medial slot 7 At its lower end the spool-snpporting member 8 is provided with inwardly turned parallel attaching wings 18 adapted to fit snugly between the front and back walls of the carrier-bar 1 and preferably of sufficient vertical height to snugly fit between the top and bottom walls, thereby forming a torque preventing engagement with the interior of the carrier-bar. These attaching wings 18 are preferabl w but not necessarily, formed integrally with the inner hanger member 8, and are detachabty secured inside the hollow end of the carrierbar by means of attaching screws 19..

Vhile the inner hanger member 8 forms a support for the yarn-spool, it is provided with a sepa'ate and distinct bearing mem ber, shown in Figure 6. This bearing member comprises an elongated plate, also of fairly rigid sheet metal, whose lower end is recessed to leave projecting prongs or hook-like members 9, spaced to form a short fork, which hook members are inserted for support through suitably disposed apertures 8 in the spool-bearing member 8, thus forming a fulcrzl connection for the bearing member 9 with the supporting member 8. The middle portion of the bearing men'iher 9 is punched out to form a bearingaperture, preferably surrounded by a hollow annular lip or flange 9. This flange or cupped construction serves a two-fold purpose. It provides a better bearing surface for the spooljournal than would the thin edge made by simply punching out the hole in the ordinary way, and it also forms a hollow seat for re ceivin and retaining in position the helical or spiral spring10, which is interposed between the fnlcrumed bearing member 9 and the fulcrumcd hook member 11.

The hook member" or suspension latch which cooperates with the chain-penetrating member 7 comprises a fairly rigid longitudinal arm 11, preferably made of stiff sheet metal provided at its upper end with a hook,

as shown at 11, adapted to overhang the top of the link of the carrier-chain. It is futcrumed in a recess 8 of the inner hanger arm, andfor that purpose is formed with an inward offset portion 11 and also with a dowmvard extension 11 which projects through medial slots formed in the extreme end portions of the brake member 3 and of the top all of the carrier-bar 1.

The advantage of fulcruming the hook latch or arm above the carrier-bar and extcnding its lower end through an end slot in the top wall of the carrier-bar is found in the possibility that such a construction ail'ords of permitting the ren'ioval of the chaiii-penetrating arm 7 from the tube frame without allowing the spring-pressed hook latch to drop or fall from its position. As shown in Figure l, normallv the prong 7 of the outer member limits the outward or Thain-engaging movementof the hook latch,

but if the outer hanger member be entirely removed, a slight further movement of the hook latch outward on its fnlcral portion brings its lower end 11 into engagement with the inner end of the containing slot in the top of the carrier-bar and, therefore, prevents any further outward movement'of the hook latch. This is of real practical importance becans-e'the operator needs lllS hands free for the various manipulations involved in ren'loving or replacing the outer arm whenever occasion arises, and this constrnction relieves him of the necessity of any handling of the hook latch or of the hearing member when making such change.

It will be observed that while the hearing member can be pressed readily out of jonrnal-supporting position, yet normally it is retained in close engagement with the outside face of the spool-supporting arm 8 by the thrustof the spring 10 which also performs the further function of pressing the hook latch outward, thus securing a double action from a single spring.

Since the parts are so proportioned that the fastening screws 7 draw the inner and outer members of the hanger firmly together at the bottom and at the top, because of the engagement or contact established between the projecting prongs 8 and the adjacent portion of the chain-penetrating arm, the

lit)

structure is exceedingly rigid and at the same time very light. The whole suspension hanger, including the yarn-spool bearing member, can be completely withdrawn from the tube frame by merely removing the attaching screws 18, while on the other hand, itis possible to. quickly remove and replace-the chain-penetrating arm 7 the hooklatch 11 and: the spool-bearing member 9. The spool has a completely closed annular bearing presenting a smooth bearing surface instead of' a sharp edge in spite of the fact that the bearing member is made of sheet metal and can be easily and readily inserted or removed. In inserting the spool it will be observed that the upper end of the spool-bearing member 9 is flared outwardly so that the pressure of the end of the journal, as it is moved toward the central bearing portion, of itself forces the bearing member outward without being grasped by the hand of the operator, and as soon as the journal is aligned with the bearing opening the spring automatically returns the bearing member to position. No stress in a transverse plane tends to open the bearing member to allow accidental dropping out of the spool, while any enclwise movement of the spool could not cause suflicient movement of the bearing member in an outward direction to allow the spool to drop out because, after a very slight outward movement of the member 9, the thrust of the spool head would be taken up by the rigid supporting arm 8, instead of by the yielding bearing member.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a tube frame, the combination with a carrier-bar, a detachable suspension bracket secured thereto and comprising inner and outer arms detachably secured together, and a spring-actuated pivotal chain latch, the outer arm being longitudinally slotted to receive the latch, the inner arm being provided with a fulcral opening to receive and support an offset fulcral portion of the latch, and itself having an offset tongue arranged to project through an aperture in the inner member and afford interlocking engagement between the two arms, substantially as described.

2. In a tube frame for tuft weaving, the combination of a suspension bracket comprising outer and inner arms rigidly and detachably secured together, and a cooperating pivotal chain latch having an offset portion loosely fulcrumed in a fulcral aperture in the inner arm and normally pressed outward toward the upper end of the outer arm, and a rigid spring-actuated spool bearing member fulcrumed on the inner member to be moved axially of the spool to release the spool.

3. A suspension bracket for a tube-frame embracing outer and inner arms detachably secured together, a chain-engaging hook latch fulcrumed on the inner arm and normally spring-pressed outward against the outer arm, said hook latch having an offset fulcral portion mounted in an aperture of the inner arm and being extended beyond said offset to permit its lowerend to limit the out-ward movement of the latch and retain it in place whenthe outer arm is removed.

4'. In a tube frame, the combination with a tubular carrier-bar slotted at its end, a suspension bracket comprising a slotted outer chain-engaging arm and an inner arm both detachably secured together, a pivotal hook latch fulcrumed intermediate of its ends by means of an offset portion mounted in a' fu-lcral aperture in the inner arm, a spring arranged to press the upper portion of said latch yieldingly outward until'the lower end ofthe latch engages an abutting portion of the structure when the outerarm is removed, thereby retaining the latch against accidental removal.

5. A suspension hanger for a tube frame embracing outer and inner arms detachab'ly secured together, the inner arm being provided with means for securing, it rigidly to the carrier-bar of a tube;- frame, and a spring-pressed chain-engaging hook-latch fulcrumed in an aperture formed in the inner arm to swing in a longitudinal slot in the outer arm so as to permit removal of the outer arm without disturbing the hook latch and its spring.

6. A suspension hanger for a tube frame embracing outer and inner arms detachably secured together and adapted to be detachably secured to the carrier bar of a tube frame, outer and inner rigid pivotal memb-ers fulcrumed in the inner arm to move apart under the pressure of an interposed spring, the outer pivotal member having at its upper end a chain-engaging hook, the inner pivotal member having a bearing aperture for a spool journal which is'releasable by outward movement of the bearing member against said spring.

7. A suspension bracket for a tube frame comprising rigidly connected outer and inner arms and downwardly projecting attaching wings for attachment to a tube frame carrier-bar, a chain-engaging hook latch and a bearing member provided with a closed bearing aperture for the journal of a yarn-spool, both fulcrum-ed in the bracket, a spring interposed between the hook latch and the bearing member acting to normally maintain the latch and the bearing me aber in position for service while permitting them to be moved to position of disengagement with the respective parts with which they coact.

8. A suspension hanger for a tube frame embracing an arm adapted to be secured to the carrier-bar of a tube frame, a rigid spool-bearing member fulcrumed thereon to swing about an axis transverse to the tube frame, said member having a closed bearing aperture for the spool journal the edge ot' which aperture is indented to form a curved annular lip atiording a smooth bearing surface for the journal and a seattor a coacting spring, and a coiled Spring arranged to exert an inward thrust against said seat.

9. In a tube frame the combination with a tubular carrier-bar, of a suspension bracket rigidly secured to the end thereof, a brake member secured to the top wall of the bar in position to have its outer end press against the rim of a yarn spool supported by the bracket, said brake having its tree outer end recessed to leave projections engaging opposite side edges of the bracket to prevent lateral displacement to said free end under stress from the revolving yarn spool.

10. In a tube frame the combination with a tubular carrier-bar, a suspension hanger rigidly secured to the end thereof, a brake arm whose inner end is anchored to the carrier bar and whose outer free end is spring pressed against the rim of a yarn spool, said outer end being bifurcated to straddle and engage opposite side edges of the hanger to resist side sway while permitting movement of the brake toward and away from the spool.

11. In a tube frame, the combination with a tubular carrier-bar, of a suspension bracket secured thereto, a brake member comprising an elongated arm whose inner end forms an offset tongue inserted through an aperture in the top wall of the carrier-bar, and means for fastening said arm securely to said carrier-bar, the outer or free end of said arm being notched to engage opposite side edges of the suspension bracket.

12. In a tube frame, the combination with a hollow carrier-bar, of a brake arm secured thereto and extending longitudinally thereof, said bar being provided with opposed aligned apertures in the bottom and top walls of the bar, a screw seated in the lower aperture, a thrust nut having threaded engagement with said screw and having engagement also with the side of said bar to prevent the nut from rotating, and a tension sin'ing inserted through the upper aperture to press against the free end of the brake-arm, said spring at its other end be ing seated upon said adjustable nut, sub stantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

CHARLES LEA. 

